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Piano*Dad - that's a very good performance. There is no wonder why your son is such a fine pianist. Gotta come from you. Hope someday such piano gene is available in the market (just kidding). Hats off to you pulling the fine performance. I know you are a busy professional.

AZ Astro - good job. You are talented if you can pull this off with only two years of piano. I haven't set up my schedule yet but please come to my piano party next March.

This recital made my Sunday! Thank you to AimeeO, Saranoya, casinitaly, LadyChen, AndyPlatt, Piano*Dad, AZ Astro, for the lovely pieces and Ganddalf for the introduction to Grieg! I’m so looking forward to the rest of this week!

You picked a lovely tempo for Arietta … well within the reasonable range. The melody sang, and you projected the full structure of the piece quite well. It's full of those mini crescendo-decrescendo phrases and they did not sound rushed. Yes, watch the last two LH sixteenth notes in each measure so that they don't compete too much with the RH. But you know that; you mentioned it in your write up. A thoroughly enjoyable "work in progress" and a beautiful opening of our recital!

No 2 Waltz / Saranoya

I paid particular attention to the score as you played. You nailed the tenuto first beats and the staccato eighths that link the theme together. Waltzes are such fun pieces to play. They pulse with life. And you clearly feel that.

I know exactly what you mean when you talk about the effect of that danged camera!

But you put it soooo close to you! It seems to be sitting right beside you, within arms reach. I can easily imagine its baleful red eye, staring intently.

No 3 Watchman’s Song / casinitaly

Ghost of Banquo indeed! Two things jumped out at me. First, you have worked really hard to capture the phrasing as Grieg intended. I noticed how precisely you accomplished this! Secondly, you have worked equally hard to master the dynamic shading that Grieg wrote into the score. Well done.

One question about the 32nd notes. You put a slight pause between the 32nd note riff and the subsequent bell tone in the bass. Are you playing all of the 32nd notes with the RH and the bass note with the left? Or are you splitting up the 32nd notes between the hands?

I think you may have inspired me to learn this one.

No 4 Elves’ Dance / LadyChen

Ah, another J.R.R. Tolkien fan! Haldir would be proud of you!

That's a wicked piece in general, more so at that speed! Yes, I know many pros take it up a notch, but your choice of tempo was just fine, and it allowed us to savor the theme. I also thought your dynamic control was just fine too. Most of the pianissimos were plenty pianissimo enough.

You often put a little accent on the third beat of the main chord theme. It's not marked that way. That's perfectly OK with me, and I like the forward momentum it provides. But I was wondering if that was a deliberate choice.

No 5 Popular Melody / Andy Platt

That piece has such a simple structure … and then G goes and messes with the rhythm to drive you batty. You know, that "popular melody" feels much like a Norwegian mazurka.

Nice sensitive playing, and the pedaling was fine, even if you didn't "follow the indications 100%."

No 6 Norwegian Melody / Piano Dad

This guy needs to grow some more hair …. really. Sheesh.

No 7 Album Leaf / Saranoya

We'll keep the "little flubs" a secret. They're small. This is a difficult little piece because of the almost continuous left hand reaches while you have to keep the tempo rock steady. Also, you did a really nice job with the left hand two-note phrases. They have to be a spine for the piece without overwhelming the theme in the right hand. Very effectively done.

No 8 National Song / AZ Astro

Quote

The short one-page score was quick to learn but long to absorb into muscle memory.

Tell me about it! An almost totally chordal piece will do that to you. It's almost hymn-like. Well, it IS a hymn. Shock -- surprise. And you capture that hymn-like feeling.

One suggestion: I think you should feel freer to lean in to more of those accents and forzandos. Many patriotic pieces have majestic (and rather powerful) chord structures. This one is no exception. Think of the main theme of one from a neighboring Scandinavian country … Finlandia.

Thank you so much to everyone who has given me such wonderful feedback - I really appreciated the comments and the fact that so many of you are aware of the progress I've been making over the past year. It multiplies my enjoyment of my piano time when I can share the results with my PW friends.

Taking part in this particular recital has been even more rewarding than the ABF general recitals because the element of being a small part of a complete work has been (and still is) absolutely splendid.

Piano*Dad, you asked

Quote

One question about the 32nd notes. You put a slight pause between the 32nd note riff and the subsequent bell tone in the bass. Are you playing all of the 32nd notes with the RH and the bass note with the left? Or are you splitting up the 32nd notes between the hands?

I am glad you only noticed a slight pause. I was (believe it or not ) working to eliminate that pause (after Richard so kindly pointed out that I'd been mis-reading the score! Thank you again ) --- And nope, I wasn't playing the riff with one hand. I tried for a long time to get it, and I could "just" do it very slowly - as soon as I tried to speed up I started getting a lot of tension in my forearm, and since I've had some pretty serious problems with that in the past, I gave it up and split the riff. I played the bass note with 5 and the first note with 1. If I had been working with my teacher over the summer I might have been able to manage it, but as things were, I had a "work-around" solution.

First of all, thanks to all who performed pieces from Grieg’s first book with Lyric Pieces. I really enjoyed listening to every piece, and I’m very glad that you made the effort studying these small pearls written by our great national composer, Edvard Grieg.

No 1 Arietta / AimeeO

Very fine start of the recital. You really captured the mood of the Arietta, giving me associations of a beautiful sunny morning.

No 2 Waltz / Saranoya

You made a good job with the Waltz. Particularly I noticed your phrasing which was very obedient to Grieg’s score. I hope that you’ll not forget this piece after the recital is over.

No 3 Watchman’s Song / casinitaly

Like many of the Lyric Pieces this one is not extremely difficult technically, but pretty challenging musically. You made out the character of the piece very well. I really enjoyed listening to you.

No 4 Elves’ Dance / LadyChen

You chose a very good tempo for the Elves’ Dance, and managed to play it with the required lightness. And you really made music out of it, what is absolutely not easy. Very good job.

No 5 Popular Melody / Andy Platt

You show by your playing that you understand Grieg’s intention with this piece. It is a simple but very beautiful melody requiring some rhythmic flexibility, and I think you did very well.

No 6 Norwegian Melody / Piano Dad

Excellent performance! This is one of Grieg’s early attempts of combining Norwegian folk music with the more European style. You seem to have some of the Hardanger fiddler attitude then playing this piece. I’m impressed.

No 7 Album Leaf / Saranoya

The Album Leaf is my favorite among the Op.12 pieces. There is a harmonic turn there reminding me a bit of Chopin’s Waltz in a-minor. Technically it is more difficult than it may sound, and I gladly forgive you any missed notes. Your performance shows that you understand the music. Thanks for sharing.

No 8 National Song / AZ Astro

Op.12 No.8 is the original edition of Grieg’s National Song. Later Bjørnson added text to it and we used to sing it at school when I was a kid. I’m afraid it is very rarely used these days. I enjoyed your performance. You have very fine dynamics, and make out the harmonic progression very well.

I did actually listen to some Hardenger Fiddle playing. The underlying drone and the occasional accent on the off beat are clearly written in to "Norwegian Melody." On the piano, the droning fifth is accented at the beginning of each four-measure theme, and then held so it fades gradually. Then it reappears in the next foursome of measures to maintain that supporting sound.

Opus 12 No 2: Waltz (performed by Saranoya) - I think you captured the feel of this very well. Love the short chords in the A section, and the little ornaments add so much!

Opus 12 No 3: Watchman's Song (performed by Casinitaly) - very sensitive playing. Loved the photos that you chose to go with the music.

Opus 12 No 4: Elve's Dance (performed by LadyChen) - So perky! I can see the elves dancing!

Opus 12 No 5: Popular Melody (performed by AndyPlatt) - You brought out the melody very well - the left hand was not overpowering at all - nice balance.

Opus 12 No 6: Norwegian Melody (performed by Piano*Dad) - Excellent job! Great tempo too. Now, are you tilting your head back to look through your bifocals? Looked like maybe you were - that will give you a crick in the neck - I know from experience. I had to get a set of piano glasses...

Opus 12 No 7: Album Leaf (performed by Saranoya) - You play with such concentration! Sounds like it paid off - great performance.

Opus 12 No 8: National Song (performed by AZ Astro) - Only two years of playing - this was great! Nice dynamics...

Opus 12 No 6: Norwegian Melody (performed by Piano*Dad) - ... Now, are you tilting your head back to look through your bifocals? Looked like maybe you were - that will give you a crick in the neck - I know from experience. I had to get a set of piano glasses...

I can't remember if I was using my computer glasses at that time. What I CAN tell you is that after two surgeries on my eyes (dealing with detached retina), I tend to look up a bit (as though I'm using bifocals) simply to get binocular vision. If I look down, my vision splits.

Opus 12 No 6: Norwegian Melody (performed by Piano*Dad) - ... Now, are you tilting your head back to look through your bifocals? Looked like maybe you were - that will give you a crick in the neck - I know from experience. I had to get a set of piano glasses...

I can't remember if I was using my computer glasses at that time. What I CAN tell you is that after two surgeries on my eyes (dealing with detached retina), I tend to look up a bit (as though I'm using bifocals) simply to get binocular vision. If I look down, my vision splits.

Two surgeries? Detached retina? *shudder* I'm even more impressed with your playing now!

My left eye certainly isn't what it used to be. I find I'm having to learn to get around the keyboard more with touch and feel. It's not like I can't see, but often things are moving on the keyboard faster than I can fully take in with my eyes. So my dependence on my eyes is going down a bit.

What a glorious start to the Grieg recital. Thank you Ganddalf for setting the stage and to AimeeO, Saranoya, Casinitaly, AndyPlatt, AZAstro, Lady Chen, and Piano Dad for the beautiful music. I enjoyed each piece...the expression, the pictures, and the color you made evident. A hearty round of applause for this section.

AimeeO, Op. 12 no. 1 Arietta - I heard no cicadas. You bring out the cheerfulness of this melody.

Saranoya, Op. 12 no. 2 Vals - A pleasant little waltz, neatly played.

casinitaly, Op. 12 no. 3 Vaegtersang - I hear the calmness of the night and early dawn as the watchman makes his rounds.

LadyChen, Op. 12 no. 4 Elverdans - How lovely and spritely this dance is, with the left hand chords reminding us that elves can be not only lithe and airy, but also fierce and determined.

Andy Platt, Op. 12 no. 5 Folkevise - You really let this melody sing. I can imagine a singer shaping it. Well done on managing the bass so it supports but doesn't overpower the melody.

Piano*Dad, op. 12 no. 6 Norsk - That is a lot of lovely music in 59 seconds! Very enjoyable. I could listen to this over and over -- it's like a tiny peek through a keyhole into a large Norwegian landscape which extends much farther than one can see, which one examines over and over trying to understand all the details.

I'm so much engrossed in enjoying all the beautiful performances of this wonderful Grieg recital! When the proposal for Grieg recital came (in between the ongoing Mendelssohn recital) I listened to a few of his lyric pieces; but, to be honest, at that time I couldn't fully understand the true beauty of those pieces (except for the one I chose, of course )! Now I'm really overwhelmed to feel and to know the underlying passions and thoughts of these pieces! A properly arranged themed recital thus seems to be an extremely powerful way to study and understand a composer's work. I'm really grateful and thankful to all of the organizers and participants whose painstaking efforts and dedications has made this recital a grand success!

My heartiest congratulations to AimeeO, Saranoya, Casinitaly, LadyChen, AndyPlatt, PianoDad and AZ Astro for creating such a wonderful prelude to this big recital! I thoroughly enjoyed all of your passionate playings, the background notes greatly helped realizing and enjoying the pieces more.

Now that the recital is well underway, I have to say I am very impressed with the playing and the commitment by all concerned. What a nice feeling, to be a part of a world community of piano enthusiasts who love and believe in the making of this music.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and I look forward to hearing all the rest of the Opus-es. ? Ha ha! It has also been a real delight to hear the great variety of pieces by Edvard Grieg; I have also really enjoyed reading about his life via Ganddalf's comments at the start of each opus.

Now that the recital is well underway, I have to say I am very impressed with the playing and the commitment by all concerned. What a nice feeling, to be a part of a world community of piano enthusiasts who love and believe in the making of this music.

Thanks to everyone for their comments and I look forward to hearing all the rest of the Opus-es. ? Ha ha! It has also been a real delight to hear the great variety of pieces by Edvard Grieg; I have also really enjoyed reading about his life via Ganddalf's comments at the start of each opus.

Thank you all for your creative participation and dedication!

+1 ! I think the plural for Opus is Opera, oddly enough.

I totally agree about the playing. I was impressed in the Mendelssohn recital and this one looks to be just as high-quality!

Phew, coming late to the party. I find it harder to find time to watch videos than listen to audio because I just can't download them all into my library and listen at leisure. At least, not easily.

AimeeO/Arietta Too beautiful for words. You nailed the voicing, absolutely got it. I could hear the melody so clearly, but the bass and the arpeggios were just right. I liked you too the ritard at the end a bit sooner than written - perfect!

Saranoya/Waltz Great performance! I wonder if you heard a version that had staccato on the left hand second and third beats? It sounds natural, I was surprised to see it not in the score. You brought a nice change in mood to the middle section and coda. Great!

Casinitaly/Watchman's Song I'm glad you tackled this, wonderfully performed. The first section was performed with wonderful gravity but didn't get too heavy. The intermezzo brings out the other worldliness really well and I loved how you nailed the dynamic markings.

LadyChen/Elves' Dance Fantastic. I've struggled through sight-reading this at about 1/10th tempo and wondered about the piece. You show exactly what it is. I can hear the elves skipping around, I can hear the mischief. The dynamics were nicely shaded and the tempo was perfect.

Piano*Dad/Norwegian Melody This piece, like LadyChen's, moves at a wonderful pace but is, likewise, played just right. The dynamic control of the left hand with fast moving thick chords is just wonderful. The different voices can be clearly heard and, all in all, it's a wonderful performance.

Saranoya/Albumleaf Very nicely done. You really let the melody flow, which nice crisp rhythms but enough room to breath. Nice dynamics and tempo too. Got me confused, though, because your edition doesn't match mine and I was following along with a different score!

AZ Astro/National Song You got the Meastoso perfectly. I felt very much like a National Song should, Grieg style! You managed to give it a great melodic feel even with the thick chords.

We wanted to post all the pieces in order, within the Opus albums....so we didn't use the recital software.

That means that with changes in the forum software, and with people leaving, some of the links no longer work.Last summer we recreated, as much as possible, (we only missed about 5 submissions) - the whole recital, using the recital software.So if you are going through these threads and find links that don't work - try going to the ABF RECITAL INDEX and take a look there.